Illinois Hoops Recruiting Thread

[WyattEarp]

I'm glad Underwood can pull it off. Anytime I recruited over a wife or girlfriend, I ended up in hot water.

You were just doing it wrong.

 

[Uihoop2023!]

I wouldn’t say it’s done deal that’s he’s reclassifying … But it’s on the table …

There’s always a reason a kid slams in 3 visits in a weeks time right before Peach Jam …

And there’s also a reason Brad went back to the big boy donors and said be ready for my call …

And I’ll tell y'all right now … If Brad goes to those guys and says I can get Jasper … Here’s the amount … For this year … As long as it’s the number I’ve been told … They’ll do it …

Boosters got that Elite 8 taste last year and they want an f’ing natty …

View attachment 35687

This makes me so happy to hear. Let's go!

 

[RabidDawgClassic]

I'm glad Underwood can pull it off. Anytime I recruited over a wife or girlfriend, I ended up in hot water.

Orlando tried that once. Didn't work out well.

 

[Thaillini22]

Is it possible that Jasper in '24 would be too much of a good thing?

 

[and 69 others]

Groce was the one to start recruiting Ayo, so give him some credit.

And he locked in Trent.

 

[jamarvelous31]

Is it possible that Jasper in '24 would be too much of a good thing?

If you listen to the Sleepers guys it could all be a sign that Boswell isn't the solution this year. It seems pretty obvious they heard the Fears rumor.

 

[and 69 others]

I can't tell if you're being serious or not ...

There is a 0% chance Ayo was coming here with Groce as HC ...

Yeah, but he locked in Jeremiah Til … oh, right, never mind.

 

[FoundersClub]

This is true …

Brad also didn’t want to hear the bull when he brought in someone better in 2025 class …

When? Or, if?

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

How is TA with everything that is going on with this program? I feel like he doesn’t have as many guys he was the lead on the roster. TY and Morez are the ones I can think of. Is he happy and plan on staying long term?

TA was lead on Tre, Rez, Ty, DGL ... That's 1/3 of the roster ...

Just take a look at the in state class for 2027 ... That is where TA is gonna make some hay ...

 

[DICKnaggie]

What hasn't been discussed (here) is why the reclassifying now? So late in the process, after rosters are mostly set, and why would that give JF a better opportunity than being a 25 at Illinois? Just seems like lots of desperation judgements when there didn't have to be. Who has money, space and minutes now, given his weight, size and experience?

 

[Noblesville Illini]

Fears is really damn good. So someone that plays same position and better than Fears?? (Riley shouldn't matter)

JJ?

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Regardless of if he's '24 or '25...all this talk about Jasper -

guess this means we're the frontrunner...? Or at least one of...?

I know we all believe Pope probably ain't the right man for KY...but the fact that we're going toe to toe with, and might even be ahead of KENTUCKY in a battle for a top 10 player who lives 20 min. away from their campus, whose father played there, and has been around the program all his life...just speaks volumes...

 

[illinifan1987]

Imagine this during the Groce years …

Oh wait … We can’t … We never got a player of Fears caliber …

…

Groce be all like...
(5) 3= (3) 5

 

[Illini4Christ]

What hasn't been discussed (here) is why the reclassifying now? So late in the process, after rosters are mostly set, and why would that give JF a better opportunity than being a 25 at Illinois? Just seems like lots of desperation judgements when there didn't have to be. Who has money, space and minutes now, given his weight, size and experience?

 

[Illini4Christ]

Regardless of if he's '24 or '25...all this talk about Jasper -

guess this means we're the frontrunner...? Or at least one of...?

I know we all believe Pope probably ain't the right man for KY...but the fact that we're going toe to toe with, and might even be ahead of KENTUCKY in a battle for a top 10 player who lives 20 min. away from their campus, whose father played there, and has been around the program all his life...just speaks volumes...

 

[nichi]

Jeremiah Fears is not his brother, he's not a PG either.

Jeremiah and JCL are very similar prospects. That was true 24 hours ago and it's true now, take whatever connotation from it you like.

Fears has much better handles, passing skills, and court awareness. JCL is a better shooter.

They are both top 50 prospects, other than that not similar.

 

[ChiefGritty]

This is a truly hilarious argument

 

[Emerson Bigguns]

What hasn't been discussed (here) is why the reclassifying now? So late in the process, after rosters are mostly set, and why would that give JF a better opportunity than being a 25 at Illinois? Just seems like lots of desperation judgements when there didn't have to be. Who has money, space and minutes now, given his weight, size and experience?

Desperation is a good word. Some teams are probably getting desperate for upside. Jeremy has it. He was just on Team USA. I would imagine that raised his profile for boosters. NIL is only limited to what you can talk someone in to.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Regardless of if he's '24 or '25...all this talk about Jasper -

guess this means we're the frontrunner...? Or at least one of...?

I know we all believe Pope probably ain't the right man for KY...but the fact that we're going toe to toe with, and might even be ahead of KENTUCKY in a battle for a top 10 player who lives 20 min. away from their campus, whose father played there, and has been around the program all his life...just speaks volumes...

Kentucky is 3rd at best for Jasper as it stands today ... And may even be 5th if it weren't for the hometown kid thing ...

He and family were not impressed with Pope on the visit ...

 

[Illini4Christ]

Jasper
Kaspar
Will
Morez
Tomi

Best freshman class in the country?

The media would call them the FAB FIVE.

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

Desperation is a good word. Some teams are probably getting desperate for upside. Jeremy has it. He was just on Team USA. I would imagine that raised his profile for boosters. NIL is only limited to what you can talk someone in to.

He barely got off the bench for Team USA ...

I can just give a comparison but his number they are wanting NIL wise isn't that far off from Kasparas ...

 

[Indy Illini Fan]

The media would call them the FAB FIVE.

The Illini media maybe ... LOL ...

We could add Luka Doncic to this team and the national media would put us at like #18 ...

 

[DICKnaggie]

Desperation is a good word. Some teams are probably getting desperate for upside. Jeremy has it. He was just on Team USA. I would imagine that raised his profile for boosters. NIL is only limited to what you can talk someone in to.

I mean ya, but he didn't really show out on Team USA, in fact, the opposite. He got limited playing time and didn't put up great numbers in the time had. Teams that are desperate are not going to have our NIL if he was willing to be patient and stay a 25.

 

[Illini in Indiana]

LOL, I glanced at this board earlier today and could have placed a fancy #3 gif. I thought, it may be a bit boring for a while........

Then come back and Fears is gone and we aren't losing our minds too much.

It may be delusions of grandeur, and I'll choose we are going to be great for the foreseeable future.

 

[ChiIllini75]

He barely got off the bench for Team USA ...

I can just give a comparison but his number they are wanting NIL wise isn't that far off from Kasparas ...

He looked a cut below the other backcourt options on that team for. JJ was much more effective and would be 100% more ready to play this year than JF. I like Fears long term, but his shooting looked shaky and his defense was very gamble heavy at this point.

The D reminded me of the early Underwood teams here, lots of turnovers forced and lots of scrambling to contain free drivers when no turnover came.